Dream Keepers Blog

Every week we welcome new Dream Keepers. Our group has grown enough that we've split into two groups—a high school group that meets from 4-5 and a middle school group that meets from 5-6. These two I AM poems come from two of the younger members of our groups. Both children invented words to talk about themselves. My favorites: talk-full and feelative!  Enjoy! I AM by Tytiana Maire Cloyd, age 9 I am wise on the outside. I am dark chocolate. I am skinny like a pencil. I am long curly hair. I am heart-full. I am talk-full. I am grateful. I am delightful. I am an aunt. I am a cousin. I am a sister. I am a niece. I am Tytiana. I AM by Perry Green, age 11 I am caramel-skinned. I am short. I am brown-eyed. I am big-footed. I am very smart. I am personal. I am feelative. I am curious. I am an uncle. I am a nephew. I am a son. I am a cousin. I am Perry.

Last winter, the Dream Keepers wrote letters to President Bush—many of them inspired by Pink's song, Dear Mr. President . This November, the teens wrote letters to President-elect Obama. I have sent them to the president-elect via his new  CHANGE  Web site. Read about the issues that concern our teens. Then, write your own letter and submit it to the president-elect. Dear Mr. President, Congratulations on being the first African American to be elected Head of State. Hello, my name is Deanna Branch. I am 19 years old, and I live with my mom and two younger sisters. I am currently employed, and my mom is in nursing school. So I am the only one with a steady income. We are living from paycheck to paycheck and are struggling to pay the light bill. I even had to dip into my college fund to buy groceries. Even though we have fallen on hard times, I will not lose hope. I will continue on to finish college, because I believe in my future. I will work hard and pray because I believe in God ...

When we met Monday night, the young people were giddy with excitement about the upcoming election. They were also worried. Would Obama be elected only to be assassinated? Could change really happen? I am looking forward to hearing what the young people have to say next Monday, now that history has been made. I plan to share with them the following quotes, sent to me by friends. A statement that shows how far we've come:  The first 26 Presidents could have OWNED the 44th.  And a poem of hope: Rosa sat so Martin could march. Martin marched so Barack could run. Barack ran so our children can fly. And now onto this week's poems.  I AM by Lorzerrick Sheridan-King I am cool. I am hot chocolate. I am think. I am peaceful. I am playful. I am entertaining. I am good. I am good-hearted. I am talented. I am a child of God. I am a boy that has more than ten brothers. I AM by Isaiah Dixon, age 11 I am bald-headed  tall for my age     chocolate caramel  brown-eyed. I am loving  obedient ...